Lytham St. Annes, England (My Sportsbook) - Sandra Gal of Germany birdied her 17th hole on Thursday to shoot a three-under 69 and earn the first-round lead of the Women's British Open.

Gal, who played in one of Thursday's last groups, braved windy, trying conditions on the back nine at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club for a one- shot lead after the first day of the tour's final major of 2009.

Angela Stanford and Song-Hee Kim both shot 70s and are tied for second place. Yuko Mitsuka and Hee Young Park are knotted in fourth at one-under 71.

Maria Hjorth is the last player in the field at par or better. She managed an even-par 72 and is alone in sixth.

Michelle Wie, who is looking for her first LPGA Tour title, posted a respectable one-over 73 and is tied for seventh with Christina Kim, Kyeong Bae and Vicki Laing.

Some of the game's best struggled on Thursday, but their scores certainly kept them in the hunt.

World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, who won this championship in 2007, shot a three-over 75 and is part of a group tied for 24th.

U.S. Women's Open champion Eun Hee Ji and Cristie Kerr managed four-over 76s, while Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Brittany Lincicome carded a five-over 77.

Anna Nordqvist, the LPGA Champion, struggled to a six-over 78, but is only tied for 65th.

MORE TO FOLLOW.